From an indigent Harlem home, to Vassar College drop out, from star police detective, to jobless drug addict, beautiful, brilliant Lotus Williams lost everything when her young daughter died of cancer. In a haze of dope she spent her time in her pajamas, prone on her couch, drinking beer, and in confusing contemplation about who she really was. She never felt she fit in anywhere. The feeling became stronger than ever. Given a second chance in a new Police Department, Lotus immediately finds herself in a violent, bloody turf war of rival drug gangs. She slowly realizes she is the central pawn in a bewildering game where nothing seems to make any sense. It is in this life and death battle that her questions are answered, her truth revealed. The question remains - will she survive. Black Lotus is film noir in a book. It's a mystery whose dénouement will leave you breathless. Between feuding gangs, police and politicians, old friends and new allies, Lotus is caught in a hide-and-seek web of lies where strength is law and the currency, blood. Treasure Chest Press and author Lita Lepie present Black Lotus. A read you won't soon forget. Guaranteed.
About the Author: A graduate of Vassar College during the war years, Lita Lepie was an activist who seized the Dean of Students' office in protest for firing an Urban Studies professor. As a result, Ms. Lepie developed a close relationship with the college president, Alan Simpson, who regularly invited Ms. Lepie and her GF to dine with him and his wife. The author's life-long work in indigent communities was enriched by studying with pioneering community organizer Saul Alinsky. While still an undergraduate, President Simpson arranged for Lepie to teach a course on Community Organizing. An original founder of "Lavender Menace" in NYC, Lepie felt her activism could be best be armed with a pen. Relocating to Cambridge, Ma., the author became a well-known columnist for "The Real Paper" - Boston's equivalent of "The Village Voice." An MFA from Sarah Lawrence followed: there the scribe was one of three students of Grace Paley. Moving back to New York City, unable to generate sufficient funds from writing, she perused her life-long passion for sports by becoming a "Certified Personal Trainer" under The American Council of Exercise. With an extensive knowledge of most forms of martial arts, she also teaches Kickboxing. Simultaneously, Ms. Lepie devoted herself to the study of Taoism, an ancient Chinese spiritual practice. Specializing in Chinese energetic meditation, she became an instructor with The International Healing Tao. Her first novel, "The Truth about Football," was purchased by Houghton Mifflin. Her novels have been optioned by Hollywood; her novel, "The Enlightened Detective," was a finalist in the national contest sponsored by Court TV. The author counts among her hobbies gardening, reading, kettle bell sport, weight lifting, spinning, and Hold'em poker. Often spotted in cowgirl garb in her upper west side neighborhood, she shares her apartment with her Pixie-bob cat, Hunter, and her African Grey Timneh parrot, Pearl. The scribe is available as a bodyguard and/or raconteur.